Where to find the midnight sun

76 days of midnight sun between May and July greets travelers to Northern Norway. The further north you go, the more nights of midnight sun you get.

The further north you travel, the longer the midnight sun is visible. During the summer months you can experience up to 24 hours of sunlight above the Arctic Circle, giving you more time to enjoy the sights and make new discoveries.

Northern Norway covers a third of Norway, and offers a myriad of landscapes and coastal vistas. When planning your midnight sun adventure, think of Northern Norway as divided into five main areas as you travel north:

Area 1:The southern part, called Helgeland, is mainly below the Arctic Circle and inland has many dense forested areas. The region has many islands and skerries, some with impressive mountains such as the the Okstindan range near Mo i Rana with Oksskolten reaching 1,915 metres (6,283 ft) above sea level.

Area 2:The region of Salten, just inside the Arctic Circle, boasts many peaks such as the Børvasstindan south of Bodø, Suliskongen near Fauske (which at 6,256 ft is the highest mountain north of the Arctic Circle), the Steigartindan and the phallic Hamarøytinden.

Area 3:Progressing further north you will reach Lofoten; an area of outstanding natural beauty characterized by rocky peaks and coastal flatlands where sheep graze on seaweed infused soil. The Vesterålen islands are an ideal place from which to experience the midnight sun, as the landscape is very varied and dramatic.

Area 4:Your fourth milestone is Troms county, which is pine and birch forested and crisscrossed with inland waterways and fjords and highlands around the rivers Målselva and Reisaelva. There are also large islands such as Kvaløya and Ringvassøya. The highest mountains in this area are the Lyngen Alps (6,013 ft) and in the same area you will also find two of Norway's most emblematic waterfalls. The highest is Mollisfossen waterfall (882 ft) and the famous Målselvfossen, sometimes called "Norway's national waterfall".

Area 5:You are now entering Finnmark county. This area is contrasted with fjords and glaciers in the far southwest, and big islands such as Sørøya and Seiland on the northwestern coasts. Midnight sun chasers best advised to head for the dramatic North Cape.

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